LIBE Interparliamentary Committee meeting on the situation of the Rule of Law

EP Plenary session - Strengthening children’s rights in the EU - 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and János BÓKA, Minister for European Affairs, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency

EP Plenary session - Fight against money laundering and terrorist financing: listing Russia as a high risk third country in the EU

ITRE IMCO -  Confirmation hearing of Henna Maria VIRKKUNEN, European Commissioner-designate for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

BUDG CONT - Confirmation hearing of Piotr Arkadiusz SERAFIN, European Commissioner-designate for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement

MEPs delve into the management of Europe’s external borders and the role of the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. This debate takes place against the backdrop of the EU and its member states continuing to prepare for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and, in particular the screening regulation, to improve security checks for persons arriving in the EU irregularly and speed up asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to international protection.

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders - need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support: MEPs debate (part 1)

EP President Roberta METSOLA and representative of the Hungarian Presidency sign various legislative acts, on "Digital labeling of EU fertilisers", on "Conservation, management and control measures on fisheries in the North-East Atlantic" and on "Serbian passports"

LEX signing ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and representative of the Hungarian Presidency

MEPs debate on the need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return. After a stabbing attack in Solingen, Germany, MEPs are discussing how to manage unauthorised movements of third-country nationals within the EU. This follows Germany’s decision to reintroduce border controls on all land borders for six months to improve detection of illegal entries. MEPs are raising concerns about the impact of these checks on Schengen free movement and reviewing preparations for the upcoming Pact on Migration and Asylum, set for 2026. The Pact focuses on strengthening security checks and accelerating asylum and return procedures for those not entitled to protection.

Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs discuss Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, the need for de-escalation and for an EU response and vote on a resolution on Thursday. EP President Roberta Metsola described Iran’s direct drone and missile attack on Israel on 20 and 21 April as a major escalation in the region and warned it risks igniting further chaos across the Middle East. Second part of the debate.

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response: MEPs debate (part 2)

The recent media revelations, which outlined how a European Parliament lawmaker has allegedly collaborated and shared information with Russian security service FSB, has prompted the institution to open an investigation, with President Roberta Metsola referring the specific matter to the Advisory Committee on the Code of Conduct. Following allegations that an MEP colluded with Russian security services, Parliament discusses this case and other interference attempts. Second part of the debate.

Russiagate - Allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union: MEPs debate (part 2)

President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sánchez summarises the results of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU’s six months. The Spanish Presidency set as its priorities reindustrialising the EU and ensuring its open strategic autonomy, advancing the green transition and environmental adaptation, promoting greater social and economic justice, and strengthening European unity.

Review of the Spanish Presidency of the Council: MEPs debate

Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, gives a statement about the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) voting a proposal to lay down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online. The proposal suggests that service providers should be obligated to evaluate the substantial risks of their platforms being used for online child sexual abuse and grooming. It also proposes granting judicial authorities the authority to issue time-limited orders for detecting and removing such materials and establishing an EU Center for Child Protection. This center, among its various responsibilities, would serve as the primary complaint channel for the entire European Union. This news item shows extracts from the vote in the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) and a statement of Javier Zarzalejos, Rapporteur on the proposal for laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.

Vote on Laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online: extracts from the vote and statement by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Rapporteur

The draft report of the European Parliament on EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse welcomes and shares the European Commission's proposal’s main aims. Yet the draft report includes a number of new elements. For instance, it includes in its scope search engines and other artificial intelligence systems and limits CSA scanning in E2E encryption to metadata analysis in order to detect suspicious patterns of behaviour without having access to the content of the encrypted communication. Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) Rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE), shadow rapporteurs, hold a press conference on the proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE): Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent child sexual abuse

MEPs welcome accession negotiations with Albania. In the 2022 draft report on Albania, MEPs welcome the country’s commitment to EU integration, and describe it as a reliable foreign policy partner and an important geopolitical ally. The accession negotiations with Albania were formally opened in July 2022. MEPs debate

2022 Report on Albania: MEPs debate

The 2023 Rule of Law Report, including its 27 country chapters, examines developments across all Member States, both positive and negative, in four key areas for the rule of law: the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and freedom, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances. The country chapters, which rely on a qualitative assessment carried out by the Commission, analyse new developments since the previous Report and the follow-up to the challenges and developments identified in the 2022 edition.

2023 Annual Rule of law report: MEPs debate

MEPs debate on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules to manage AI risk and promote uses of AI that align with EU values including human oversight, privacy, and non-discrimination. The rules follow a risk-based approach and establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk the AI can generate. They would prohibit AI systems with unacceptable levels of risk. They are also proposing tailor-made rules for generative AI, like ChatGPT, including labelling AI-generated content and making publicly-available summaries of copyrighted data used for training. To boost AI innovation, MEPs propose exemptions for research activities and open-source AI components. First part of Second part of MEPs debate

Artificial Intelligence Act: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate and vote on the latest Commission report on the respect for core EU values across member states. MEPs are set to confirm that the Commission’s reporting has improved, but that rule of law is deteriorating and that specific concerns persist in several EU countries.

2022 Rule of Law report - the Rule of Law situation in the European Union: MEPs debate

Parliament hold urgent debates on the following human rights, democracy and rule of law topics. Iran: in particular the poisoning of hundreds of school girls. Closing statement by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

The situation of the poisoning of hundreds of school girls in Iran

MEPs discuss with EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell how to respond to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran.The demonstrations, which started in mid-September after a young woman, Mahsa Amini, was killeddied in the custody of ‘morality police’ for breaking strict hijab rules, have now gone on for nearly two months.

EU response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran: MEPs debate

MEPs and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep BORRELL discuss the countrywide protests against the Islamic regime in Iran after the nationwide demonstrations were triggered by the death in Tehran on 16 September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police, who assaulted her for, they claimed, incorrectly wearing her hijab. Second part of the debate.

The death of Mahsa AMINI and the repression of women's rights protesters in Iran: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate the Russian government’s relations with European parties of the extreme right and left in the context of the war in Ukraine. First part of the debate.

The relations of the Russian government and diplomatic network with parties of the European extreme right and extreme left in the context of the war: MEPs debate (part 1/2)

During a key debate proposed by the Greens/EFA, MEPs discuss the use of the Pegasus Software by EU Member States against individuals including MEPs and the violation of fundamental rights. Fourth part of the debate.

Use of the Pegasus Software by EU Member States against individuals including MEPs and the violation of fundamental rights: MEPs debate (part 4/4)

MEPs debate with the Commission in a topical debate the cases of cooperation and similarities between the Putin regime and extreme right and separatist movements in Europe.

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